10 of the Best Soccer Players in the World

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by Stewart Coggin
Updated January 04, 2018

Every fan has an opinion about the world's best soccer players, but nearly everyone
agrees on a few players. Many of these stars play for the elite soccer teams — Real
Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester figure prominently in this list — and a few of them
are already considered legends, like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. All of them
contribute to the global appeal that soccer fans call the "beautiful game."

Lionel Messi

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso / Getty Images

A multiyear winner of FIFA's Player of the Year Award, Lionel Messi is generally
considered to be the best soccer player of all time. His ability to mesmerize defenders
with a mix of skill and pace is unmatched, and it often appears as though the ball is
glued to his feet. Messi led his home country, Argentina, to the 2014 World Cup final,
losing 1-0 to Germany, and to the finals of the 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas. A serial
winner with his club, the Barcelona star is versatile enough to play anywhere across the
frontline.

Teams: Argentina, F.C. Barcelona

Position: Forward

Team number: 10 (both teams)

Birthdate: June 24, 1987 More »

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo. Adam Pretty / Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player who soccer fans say could be considered Messi's
equal — if not superior. Ronaldo is stronger and taller than the Argentine, and his goals-
to-games ratio is similar. In 2016, Ronaldo was named FIFA's Player of the Year, his
fourth such honor. In fact, he and Messi have been the only two players to win that
honor since 2007. Since joining Real Madrid fromManchester United in 2009, Ronaldo
has been a revelation, making the world-record outlay of $131 million look less
outrageous with every goal he scores. His famous stopover is imitated in parks right
across the world.

Teams: Portugal, Real Madrid

Position: Forward

Team number: 7 (both teams)

Birthdate: Feb. 5, 1985 More »

Luis Suarez (Uruguay & Barcelona)

Chris Brunskill Ltd / Getty Images

The Barcelona striker is not everyone’s cup of tea, but his ability is not up for debate.
Luis Suarez is a master at weaving his way into the penalty box, deadly in one-on-one
situations, and an excellent free-kick taker. His link-up play with teammates is of the
highest order, and he is a fighter who will always give 100 percent for the cause. A
penchant for conning referees remains his Achilles heel, but that did not stop Barcelona
from paying Liverpool $128.5 million for the player in July 2014. Suarez quickly helped
them to the treble.

Teams: Uruguay, F.C. Barcelona

Position: Forward

Team number: 9 (both teams)

Birthdate: Jan. 24, 1987

Neymar
Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images

Neymar has been playing pro soccer since he was 17, and he quickly established his bona
fides in the sport. Neymar has scored more goals than Messi and Ronaldo at the same
stage of their careers and has the capacity to be the very best once Messi's career begins
to wind down. Alongside the Argentine and Suarez, he forms one of the best-attacking
lineups in the history of the sport. In 2016, Neymar was named the captain of Brazil's
soccer team at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Teams: Brazil, F.C. Barcelona

Position: Forward

Team number: 10 (Brazil), 11 (Barcelona)

Birthdate: Feb. 5, 1992 More »

Sergio Aguero is a handful for defenses. Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

A consummate finisher, Sergio Aguero was part of Argentina's run to the 2014 World
Cup finals, where they lost to Germany. Aguero has been key in the two title wins under
Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, scoring that famous late winner against QPR in
2012 to seal the Premier League. Quick, with an excellent first touch and ability to bring
others into play, the Argentine has few weaknesses and is arguably the best signing since
Manchester City was taken over by the Abu Dhabi United group in 2008.

Teams: Argentina, Manchester City F.C.

Position: Forward

Team number: 11 (Argentina), 10 (Manchester)

Birthdate: June 2, 1988

Matthias Hangst / Getty Images

Hands down the best goalkeeper in the world, Manuel Neuer exudes confidence in
everything he does. Bayern fans were not initially convinced when the club signed him
from Schalke in 2011, but few doubters inhabit the Allianz Arena these days. Neuer is
superb in one-on-one situations and capable of stunning reflex saves. He is also good
technically and boasts excellent distribution. Neuer led his German national team to the
2014 World Cup title over Argentina.

Teams: Germany, F.C. Bayern Munich

Position: Goalkeeper

Team number: 1 (both teams)

Birthdate: March 27, 1986

Gareth Bale

Stu Forster / Getty Images

Gareth Bale, the Welsh attacker, is a supreme dribbler who boasts the pace and skill to
beat multiple opponents. Bale is also a great finisher and capable of scoring consistently
from long range. His performance in the 2016 UEFA Champions League title game win
over Atlético Madrid is a career standout, as is his goal against Barcelona in the 2014
Copa del Rey final.

Teams: Wales, Real Madrid

Position: Midfield/Forward (Wales), Forward (Real Madrid)

Team number: 11 (both teams)

Birthdate: July 16, 1989

Andres Iniesta

Jean Catuffe / Getty Images

Soccer fans of all stripes agree that Andres Iniesta is one of the classiest midfielders in
the game. The short, eye-of-the-needle passing he produces can pierce holes in even the
most stubborn of rearguards. Iniesta is also very modest, never creating problems for
his coaches. Iniesta scored the winner in the 2010 World Cup final against the
Netherlands and helped Barcelona to two trebles in 2009 and 2015.

Teams: Spain, F.C. Barcelona

Position: Midfielder

Team number: 6 (Spain), 8 (Barcelona)

Birthdate: May 11, 1984

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images

Expect the unexpected with the mercurial Swede. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is perhaps the
moodiest player in world soccer, but completely unplayable when on his game. Just
witness his stunning overhead kick against England in 2012. "Ibra," as fans call him, has
won league titles in Holland, Italy, Spain, and France with six different clubs and is
something of a lucky charm for those willing to invest in his considerable talents. One of
Sweden's top stars, he has won that nation's Golden Ball award for the best soccer player
a record 11 times.

Teams: Sweden, Manchester United F.C.

Position: Forward

Team number: 10 (Sweden), 9 (Manchester United)

Birthdate: Oct. 3, 1981

Arjen Robben

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